Measuring and cutting device



Jan. 8, 1957 C, plcKET-r 2,776,492

MEASURING AND CUTTING DEVICE Filed June 22 1955 United States Patent O MEASURING AND CUTTlN G `DEVICE Theodore C. Pickett, Menasha, Wis., assignor to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,353

Claims. (Cl. 33-135) This invention relates broadly to a device for measuring and cutting a length` of sheet material from a longer portionr thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to a device whereby a length of sheet material, withdrawn from a roll thereof, may be measured and then cut to a desired length.

The invention has particular utility in the printing industry, where it is necessary to cut sheets of top packing material or underpacking material to a size suitable for use in connection with the particular printing machines being employed. However, as will be apparent, the invention also has usefulness for any other purpose where it is necessary or desirable to sever measured lengths of paper or other sheet material from a roll.

In the printing industry, it has heretofore been necessary for printing machine operators, when withdrawing a length of top packing or underpacking material from a roll, to attempt to estimate whether the amount they have withdrawn from the roll is of the proper length. As might be expected, the piece withdrawn is frequently too long or too short, whereupon it becomes necessary for the operator to trim the sheet to proper size upon a separate cutting machine. The extra step thereby entailed is, of course, time consuming and, furthermore, if the sheet cut from the roll is too short, it may be unsuitable for its intended purpose.

The device of the present invention provides means whereby the length ot the material withdrawn from the roll can be easily and quickly measured before it is severed from the roll, so that guesswork in estimating size may be eliminated.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides for the placement of a measuring element (e. g., a ruler) in association with the cutting blade of a dispenser, whereby the length of material withdrawn may be measured, by folding its edge over to lie along said ruler, before said material is torn ott` from the roll.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the device of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure l.

Reference character 2 indicates a base for the dispensing device. Said base may be made of metal, wood or other relatively rigid material. If desired, base 2 may be provided with apertures (not shown) whereby the unit can be screwed or otherwise aiiixed to a supporting surface. Base 2 should, of course, be of sufficient size so that it will support the structure mounted upon it in an upright position.

Upon base 2 there is provided a roll supporting frame comprising two side walls 3 and 3a mounted in spaced parallel relation. Back member 4 connects said side walls and maintains the same securely in upright position. For reinforcement of the structure above described, I provide cross bar 5 which extends along the top of back 4, and connects side walls 3 and 3a.

`Patented Jan. 8, 1957 In the particular embodiment shown, I have provided means for rotatably mounting two separate-'rolls of material, for in the printing industry it is customary for one operator to have occasion to use several rolls of different widths. It will, of course, be understood that the construction shown could be modified to accommodate one or any other number of rolls.

Side walls 3 and 3a are provided with two pairs of circular seats 6 and 7, which are aligned with each other on opposed side walls, and provided with notches 8. Said notches serve to receive the projecting ends of rollers 9 and 10.

Rolls of sheet material 11 and 12, wound upon cores 13, are rotatably mounted upon rollers 9 and 10. Disc members 14, 14a and 15, 15a, provided with plugs 16, are positioned adjacent the vedges of said rolls with plugs 16 inserted within the ends of cores 13. Said discs are of a diameter greater than said rolls and thereby serve to prevent the rolled sheet material from becoming displaced, laterally. Plugs 16, which fit closely over rollers 9 and 10, and closely within cores 13, prevent rolls 11 and 12 from turning too freely.

Cutting blades 17 are afxed to each side wall by screws 18 and extend across the front of the frame in parallel relationship to rollers 9 and 10. Each of said cutting blades is divided into units of measurement; inches, in the embodiment shown. Discs 14a and 15a and seats 6 and 7 are of such thickness so that the right hand edges of rolls 11 and 12 will be spaced from side wall 3a and in alignment with the lowest number of said units of measurement when rolls 11 and 12 are mounted in the device, as shown. Coil springs 19 and 20 are compressed upon rollers 9 and 10 so as to urge the edges of rolls 11 and 12 into proper alignment with the measuring element. Washers 21 are placed at each end of the coil springs 19 and 20.

When it is desired to measure and cut a definite length ol sheet material from the roll, the operator may graspl the free end of the roll and withdraw approximately the length needed. He will then turn the leading right hand corner A of the paper up to lie over the units of measurement, as shown in Figure l of the drawings. I-Ie is thus able quickly to determine the exact length of material he has withdrawn, for, as above indicated, the edge of the paper is in alignment with the lowest unit of measurement and the length withdrawn is therefore indicated on the rule. When the operator desires to sever the material, he merely draws it upwardly over serrated edge 22.

Bars 23 and 24 are provided for holding the free ends of the rolls in position against cutting blades 17. As particularly shown in Figure 2, these bars are attached to side walls 3 and 3a by screws 25 so that they may turn about their longitudinal axes. Springs 26 and 27 are afxed to the top edge of said bars under tension and serve to retract the same about said screws 25 so that the lower edge of said bars will be maintained in position against the lower portions of cutting blades 17. By this arrangement, the free ends of rolls 11 and 12 are held in position to be' grasped.

What I claim is:

1. A device for measuring and cutting a length of sheet material from a roll thereof, comprising a roller for supporting said roll, a frame in which said roller is supported for rotation, and a cutting edge spaced from and extending in parallel relation to said roller, said cutting edge being divided into units of measurement, said units of measurement being consecutively numbered, the rst of said units of measurement being in line with the point on said roller over which the edge of said roll will lie when said roll is supported by said roller.

2. A device for measuring and cutting a length of 3 `sheet vmaterial from a roll thereof, comprising a frame, means for rotatably mounting said roll within said frame, a cutting edge divided into numbered units of measurement,a'nd means 'for maintaining an edge of said roll in alignmentwith the rst of said units of measurement.

3. A device for measuring and cutting a length ol sheet material from a longer roll thereof, comprising a roller for supporting said roll, a frame in which said roller is supported for rotation, and a cutting edge spaced from and fixed in parallel relation to said roller, said cutting edge being divided into units of meassrernent means being provided for maintaining an edge of said roll inalignment with the i'lrst of said units of measurement.

4. A device for measuring and cutting a length of sheet material from a roll thereof, comprising a roller upon which said roll is mounted, a frame in which said roller is supported for rotation, and a cutting edge xed in parallel relation to said roller, said roller having a roll stop-means in association with it, and being fitted with a coil spring, said coil spring urging said roll into abutment against said roll stop-means, said cutting edge 4 being'divided into units of measurement, said roll stopmeans and the rst of said units of measurement being Y in substantial alignment.

5. A device for measuring and cutting a length of sheet material from a roll thereof comprising a frame in which said roll is supported for rotation about an axis extending from end to end of said roll and a cutting edge under which the leading end portion of the material on said roll may be drawn, said cutting edge being divided into units of measurement, the length of material drawn oit said roll under said cutting edge being measurable by folding the side edge of said material to lie along the units of measurement on said cutting edge.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 845,950 Hart Mar. 5, 1907 1,252,258 Gebhart Ian. 1, 1918 2,250,236 Russell July 22, 1941 2,447,145 Van Cleef et al. Aug. 17, 1948 2,654,544 Pusheck Oct. 8, 1953 

